BPSL: Dead Whale Shark In Jembrana Due To Entangled In Fisherman's Net

DENPASAR - Denpasar Coastal and Marine Resources Management Center (BPSPL), Bali, said the cause of death of a whale shark (Rhincondon typus) on Yellow Water Beach, Jembrana, due to weak death was entangled in a fishing trawl net.

Head of BPSPL Denpasar Permana Yudiarso, said the whale shark or spotted shark was first found by local fishermen on Saturday (17/6) dead after being released back into the sea.

"Information from the field was initially entangled in trawler nets. Then the fishermen tried to get it out and succeeded, but at night they returned to the mainland and eventually died," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, June 19.

He said the whale shark is usually looking for small fish and is often entangled in fishing nets. In the case of the whale shark in Jembrana, Yudiarso said that temporarily from the outside examination there were no signs of violence on the fish.

"There were no signs of violence. Where the sea was found (the whale shark) was quite sloping, so he was caught in a net. Because he was a fish, not a mammal, like a whale, if he was no longer exposed to water, it wasn't long before he died," he said.

On Sunday (18/6), a team from the Indonesian Animal Network had undergone surgery to find out the cause of the whale's death medically. Until now, BPSPL has not received laboratory examination results on the necropsy or surgery of the whale shark.

According to Yudiarso, the majority of the whale shark population lives in the waters of southern and northern Bali.

Of the several cases previously handled by BPSPL, the fish were found in the Bali Strait, Jembrana, border with Banyuwangi, southern Jembrana, Nusa Penidaselatan, and northern Bali in the Gerogak, Buleleng areas. However, the fish population is not large.

Yudiarso appealed to the public to immediately report to officers in the event of a similar thing so that it can be handled quickly. Especially during the current Lemuru fish season, in the Jembrana area, southern Bali area, many fishermen use attractive trawls.

"This whale shark food is also a food for lemuru fish. We suggest that if fishermen find it, immediately release the whale shark from its net, push it immediately into the sea. Try to make it alive, don't consume it and report it to the nearest apparatus," he said.

He also warned the public not to catch whale sharks because the animals are categorized as protected and have been regulated in Article 16 in conjunction with Article 88 of Law Number 31 of 2004 concerning Fisheries.

"We don't want it because fishermen don't understand, then commit violations. Therefore, so that it doesn't happen, don't arrest him," he said.